Douglas Ross 'Culpable' in Brexit Destruction of Scotland's Fishing Sector

Scottish Seafood Industry Deserve Full Apology for Disastrous Deal
Douglas Ross has been accused of being culpable in the demise of Scotland’s fishing industry after admitting during the STV Leaders' Debate that the Tories had ‘not done enough’ for the sector.

The Scottish Tory leader is being urged to issue a full apology to Scotland’s seafood industry after he voted for the rotten Brexit deal that has left it struggling to export produce to mainland Europe.

Since Scotland was dragged out of the EU against its will, Scotland’s fishermen have reported sky-rocketing costs, increased red tape and reduced catch sizes.

The cost of Brexit has not only mounted for the fishing industry but also for Scotland’s exporters and our world-renowned farming and food production firms.

The SNP has provided funding for Scotland’s fisheries to mitigate the worst impacts of Brexit.

Commenting, SNP candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Karen Adam said:

“It is frankly an insult for Scotland’s fisheries to hear Douglas Ross say the Tories have not done enough for the industry – he is culpable as he voted for the rotten Brexit deal that has put them in this situation.

“These industries have been hit by the double-whammy of COVID and Brexit. It was reckless to say the least for the Tories to pursue their Brexit fantasy in the middle of a global pandemic when businesses were struggling already.

“It is not enough for Douglas Ross and the Tories to say they did not do enough - the industry needs action and it needs it now.

“The Tories' Brexit has left the sector worse off than when we were part of the European Union, and the Single Market and Customs Union. The only way Scotland can return to the top table is with independence and the only way to deliver that is by putting Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands with Both Votes SNP.”

Praise for New Cullen Town Guide from Local SNP Candidate

SNP Candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Karen Adam has praised the team behind the new Cullen Town Guide and Map which has been published.

Cullen Voluntary Tourist Initiative working with Cullen & Deskford Community Council and Cullen Volunteer Group have secured funding from the Scottish Government’s “Scotland Loves Local Fund” to produce the map.

Commenting, Karen Adam said:

“I congratulate those involved in this great initiative and very much welcome the funding from the Scottish Government to assist.

“Cullen is a popular tourist destination and one of the jewels of the Banffshire coast so I hope that, once it is safe once again to do so, this publication will lead to more visitors coming to the area and boosting local businesses in and around Cullen.”

SNP Chief Keith Brown Hails 12,500 Extra Members in March

Party Announces Post-Election Summer Conference
SNP campaign director Keith Brown says the party’s 12,500 new members that have joined this month shows the SNP is ‘fighting fit’ as it goes into the election campaign.

By month end, the SNP is on track to match in new members the total Scottish Labour membership of 16,467, four times the Scottish LibDems membership (4,085) and more than double the Scottish Greens membership (6,412). The Scottish Tories refuse to say how low their membership has sunk.

Mr Brown also announced that the party’s NEC has today agreed to hold a summer conference.

And this weekend the SNP will be asking members and supporters to share the Bairns not Bombs digital campaign leaflet which contrasts the differing priorities of the SNP led by Nicola Sturgeon with Boris Johnson’s Tory Government.

He said:

“We are a party and a movement powered by our mass membership.

“The fact we’ve had 12,500 new members sign up this month is a massive boost as the election nears.

“Our new members' input at the summer conference - that NEC has confirmed today - will be invaluable as we drive the case for independence forwards.

"At the coming election, the SNP offers a safe, steady, and experienced hand to steer Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

"And we'll offer a better, fairer, more prosperous future for our country with a post-pandemic referendum.

"The choices about Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands - and not those of a bumbling Tory PM.

“Boris Johnson and his Tory cronies don’t care about Scotland. Their priorities are all wrong.

“While they are wasting hundreds of billions of our money on more nuclear weapons, we are focused on giving Scotland’s young people the best start.

“With the baby box, the child payment, more free hours of childcare, free school meals and no tuition fees it is clear to see the SNP's priorities are bairns, not bombs.”

Adam Comments on Announcement of Net Zero Project Funding - "UK Govt Turns Up Late Again for Scotland"

SNP candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Karen Adam has welcomed the announcement by the UK Business and Energy Secretary today (Wednesday) of funding from the ‘Industrial Decarbonisation Fund’ for Scotland’s Net Zero Infrastructure project, based at St Fergus. However, the amount pales into insignificance compared to the £1 billion grant which was axed by the UK Government from Peterhead in 2015.

In 2015, the Tory Government axed the £1 billion grant which could have created 600 jobs in Peterhead while helping Scotland become a global leader in clean energy technology – despite the funding being promised in their 2015 manifesto and a major promise from David Cameron in the 2014 referendum campaign.

   

Commenting, SNP candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Karen Adam said:

“I think the Tories must think the people of the North-east have really short memories. It was only a few years ago that there was a billion-pound project ready to go and it was ditched by the Tory Government. Indeed, SNP MPs were pushing the Westminster Government to act on carbon capture projects being worked-up in the North-east as far back as 2007.

“The £31million is very welcome but we’d be light years ahead of where we are now and our global competitors if the UK Government hadn’t pulled funding of a much larger magnitude from the Carbon Capture and Storage project all those years ago. It just goes to prove that the UK Government always turns up too late for Scotland.

“Scotland can and should be at the forefront of energy technology - that’s what will secure jobs and investment in our region. We need to take powers into our own hands with independence to make Scotland a global leader in energy and protect jobs in our region. A net zero, a greener recovery and ensuring energy transition to protect jobs in the North-east will be at heart of SNP’s priorities locally.”

Former Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson added:

“The Scottish Government’s £62 million Energy Transition Fund announced in June will support businesses in the oil, gas and energy sectors as they grow and diversify and will help attract private sector investment in the region.

“The investment, with a focus on the North-east, underpins our region’s ambitions to become a world leader in the transition to net zero, helping Scotland meet its ambitious targets on climate change.

“Major projects to be considered for funding include a Global Underwater Hub, Net Zero Solution Centre projects, a Hydrogen Hub, the Acorn project and an Energy Transition Zone.”